Ireland Tour Guide William Mc Evilly

William Mc Evilly MA, BA (hons) Landscape Archaeologist

Hi Folks, My Name Is William and I am a Landscape Archaeologist conducting research in Connemara. I studied at the National University of Ireland in Galway City where I gained my degree and conducted my research at the Archaeology department to obtain my Masters degree. I studied the evolution of the Natural and Cultural Landscape of North West Connemara in the Sheeauns ( Faerie Mounds) area near Cleggan. . As a native of Connemara, in the west of Ireland, I had the privilege of growing up in this beautiful part of Ireland where much of the landscape is unchanged since the Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age circa 4500 BC. I am conducting my research closer to home on the waters and surrounding shore of Lough Corrib in County Galway. This Landscape is rich in prehistoric archaeology with a impressive hilltop Neolithic cairn overlooking the Lough, an area rich in mythology and folklore with strong associations with the faerie folk and enchanted landscapes. Lough was born out of the last Ice age circa 12000 years ago when glacial activity scored the land and carved out the lough on its way to the sea at killery harbor, a glacial ford roughly 20km north of the point where Lough Corrib forms at Maan Valey, close to where I live. One of my research areas is focused on the Tuatha De Dannan, a mythological tribe of Gods and Goddesses which are chronicled in many of the ancient Irish annuals. Ireland Tour Guides.

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Background History Lough Corrib

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There is evidence of human presence in and around Lough Corrib stretching back to the Mesolithic period (8000-4000 BC) with the when stone tools and weapons were found there is also evidence of and the Neolithic and Bronze Age Period was particular eventful in and around Lough Corrib. From the fifth century BC the Celts occupied Ireland and this can be seen with their beautiful La-teen Art seen on the Tara Broach. Saint Patrick came to Ireland in 430 AD and began to convert the Gaelic tribes to Christianity and on Inish Gill, the largest Island on the Lough, there is the remains of a Saint Patricks Oratory and a headstone belong to his cousin Lughnad which dates from the fifth century AD, and the ancient text represents the earliest evidence of early Christian writing outside the catacombs in Rome. in the 7-10th century AD we were occupied with Viking raiders who sailed the waters of the lough raiding the various monasteries and monastic settlements. a beautiful example of a Bronze Age Boat circa 2500 BC a long with a Viking craft 7-10 century AD was found south east of Inish Gill. In the 12th century AD the Norman Invasion of Ireland and there is lovely examples of a Norman Castle on a tiny Island near Maam Valley. Castle Kirk was later associated with Grace O Malley the 16th Century pirate Queen. Ireland Tour Guides